February 8th, 2010

Coaches across Continents are pleased to announce our 4th partner program in Kenya with Kisumu Youth Football Association.  Their program is built around two pillars. Firstly they believe that by creating an enabling environment for competition, young people will be encouraged to form a football team for which children and youth are recruited with whom they train every day in preparation for the weekly competition matches. Within this context an enabling environment means, good fields, reliable registration systems, skilled referees and efficient management.  Secondly, they believe that the teams are avenues for and their leaders are agents of youth development. By building their capacity, KYFA pursues to improve the welfare of children and youth. We hope that KYFA teams will turn into their positive peer groups recognized throughout the community.

“We would hope the Coaches Across Continents would be able to help build the capacity of our coaches, in the sense that the coaches would be able to coach the players in more than soccer. We want the coaches to be good role models for their players and to help develop the social skills of the children, in order to help develop the community”.  Coach Kelsey from KYFA.

“Our Coaches will be in Kenya from March 31st until May 30th and we are delighted to have been approached by so many organizations who use football for social development to form mutually beneficial partnerships.  Sharing ideas and coaching styles will help communities around the world build their programs and help thousands of teachers and children.  KYFA have a fantastic program and we are looking forward to sharing and learning with them”  Steve Bowsher, Board of Directors Coaches across Continents.

Former Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has been named as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers following the departure of Jim Magilton.

The 56-year-old left Portsmouth last month and will be in charge until the end of the season.

Former Luton boss Mick Harford, who had a spell in caretaker charge of Rangers in 2007, will be Hart’s assistant.

Magilton and his assistant John Gorman left the Loftus Road club by mutual consent on Wednesday.

QPR have suspended manager Jim Magilton with immediate effect, pending an internal investigation.

This relates to an incident on Monday at Vicarage Road, where QPR lost 3-1 to Watford where following the the match, Magilton admitted he had a “difference of opinion” with midfielder Akos Buzsaky but he has categorically denied any wrong-doing.

QPR have won just one game in seven and the loss to Watford followed a 5-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Magilton issued a statement through the League Managers’ Association on Wednesday afternoon, saying he would co-operate with any club investigation and hoped to be back in charge soon.

“While passions can run high in football, especially after a poor performance, I categorically deny any allegation of wrongdoing following Monday’s fixture,” he said.

“I understand that the club has initiated an internal investigation, with which I will co-operate fully.

“This is an unfortunate situation and I look forward to resuming my responsibilities shortly.”

Following a statement about Magilton on Wednesday, the club issued a second statement later on their official website , denying reports that Buzsaky had handed in a transfer request.

“It is not true at all,” the Hungarian international is quoted as saying.

“I am entirely focused on our next fixture against West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.

It has been reported that David Sullivan and David Gold have tabled an offer to buy into West Ham.

Both are expected to take a substantial shareholding for a nominal fee, promising to invest in the team in January and offer expertise plus the option of buying the club outright at a later date.

West Ham are owned by CB Holding, a company made up of creditors of Hansa, which was owned by former chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

CB Holding have appointed Rothschild and Standard Bank to try to find a new owner for the club.

“Several parties” have made approaches and are involved in “an ongoing dialogue” about the possibility of buying the Hammers, according to a senior board member, but negotiations are still at a fairly early stage.

Gold and Sullivan sold Birmingham to Hong Kong billionaire Carson Yeung in October, ending their 16-year tenure at the club.

They bought the Blues for £1 and sold the club for £82m. The duo have a strong affiliation with West Ham and once owned a 30% stake in the Upton Park club.

Portsmouth have confirmed some of their players have not received their November salaries which is the second time this season they have not been paid on time.

In a Portsmouth statement: “The majority of the first team squad have not yet received their November salaries.

“A proportion of their wages will be paid on Friday, with the club’s new owners working towards paying the remainder over the next few days.”

This is the second time as they were also paid late for September.

Portsmouth were placed under a transfer embargo in late October until they settle debts owed to other English clubs and Chief executive Peter Storrie stated last week that he expected the embargo to be lifted by the time the window opens on 1 January, while manager Avram Grant has said he is confident he will have money to spend.

Portsmouth have confirmed that Avram Grant will become their new manager after being granted a work permit.

Avram has been at the club since October as director of football, but will take over the Premier League’s bottom side following the sacking of Paul Hart.

The work permit that allows the 54-year-old to take charge of Pompey’s match against Manchester United at the weekend is for his director’s role, but he will be allowed to take charge of the side when a permit for his new job is processed.

Chief executive Peter Storrie said: “Avram is a very experienced and respected manager who has managed at the highest level. The board believes he is the man to help steer the club out of the relegation zone.

“He knows the club, the players and the set-up at Fratton Park, so it was the logical move to make him the next manager, once the board had decided to relieve Paul Hart of the role.

“He will take charge of training on Friday alongside first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan.”